Electric sterilizer for food products.



M. R. FREI.

BLEGTRIG STERILIZER FOR FOOD PRODUCTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1908.

907,140. Patented Dec.22,1908.

19 and 20 are provided desi v UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE. I narnsw'njrnni, or Danger; COLORADO.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application fled. lay 27, 1908. Serial No. seam.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, MATHEW R. 'FREI, citie zen of the United States, residing at Denver,

in the county of Denver and State of 0010- 5 rado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Sterilizers for Food Products; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention; such as enab e others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sterilizers and more especially to that class of sterilizers employing electric current as a sterllizlng agent.

The object of the present invention is to provide an electric sterilizer adapted'for use 1n association with vessels of'usual and ordinary type, for sterilizing liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide in" an electric sterilizer improved means for bringing the material to be actedupon in an intimate relation with the electrodes.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of arts as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed.

Inthe drawings: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the Improved sterilizer shown in o erative association with a'special receptac e, and, F'g. 2, isa top plan view of the diaphragm member;

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The sterilizer forming the subject'matter of this application comprises a diaphragm or partition member 10 provided with dialnetrically oppositely disposed openings-11 and 12 through which are inserted insulating sleeves 13 and 14 respectively. The sleeves 13 and 14 may be of an desired length and of any approved insu ating materlal and through such sleeves are inserted the conductors 15 and 16, terminating below or at the lower end of the sleeves in electrodes 17 and 18 preferably turned substantially at right angles to the *sleeves. The electrodes 17 and 18 are of such length and relative o sitions'that they extend toward each ot or with the ends spaced a art the required distance as indicated in 1g. 1.

'To support the electrodes insulating feet ed to rest upon the bottom of the receptac e and to support -of holes or o enin some little distance'above the bottom of the receptacle. The diaphragm 10is also rovided centrally with an opening 21 throng which is inserted a tube 22 carried by the said diaphragm and slitted' at the bottom as shown at 23 and 24 to permit the insertion of the electrodes 17 and 18 in association and opermit the passage of fluid or li uid material from the tube 22 to the recepta le.

The conductors 1,5 and 16 are of course connected with any preferred or convenient source of electrica energy showndiagrammatically at 25 and means for indicating the stren th of the current is preferably interpose in one of the conductors, here represented as the lamp 26. The die. hragm member 10 is also provided with a p uralit s 27 designed toermlt the escape 0 gas rom the receptac e provided the diaphragm member fits the receptacle somewhat tightly. I

While as. above stated the electrodes and their accom anying and associate parts are designed to be used in any convenient and ordina shown is particularly adapte for use inthe ient manner as upon the'legs 28 and provided at one side of the bottom with an opening 29 and a discharge spout 30. It is desirable to have the dischar e spout 30 provided with a gate or valve as Shown conventionally at 31, the tube leading from such valve being intended, to convey material acted upon to the bottle-or other store e receptacle.

In operation the fluid, semi-fluid or liquid per open end of the tube 22 and flowing downward comes into operative relation with the spaced ends of theelectrodes 17 and 18. Unt1 the receptacle 27 is filled or partially filled the device is not in full operative condition, but when so filled it is desirable to regulate the inflow and outflow to correspondv so that end of the tube 22 flows downwar such tube ast andinto the sphere of influence of 516 electrodes 17 and 18 thence outwardly through the openings 23 and 24 into the receptac e 27.

The material acted upon by the electrodes is partially decompose The electrode 17 being considered positive and the electrode 18 considered negative, oxygen will be liberated at the terminal of 17 while hydrogen the sleeves with the electrodes spaced at.

receptacle, the rece tacle 27 here,

sterilizing process supported in any convenmaterial to be sterilized is poured into the upthe material introduced in the upper 0 en y wit in culinary will be liberated at the terminal of 18. The decomposition or partial decomposition and the liberation of the gases'within the fluid acted upon thoroughly sterilizes the 'material. The liberated oxygen especially having that effect.

While it is desirable to employ the sterilizer in association with the receptacle shown or a similar receptacle it will be obvious that it may be used in ordinary household and ursuits and may be inserted and employe in vessels of any nature and size it only bein re downwar l t rou h the tube 22 into association wit the electrodes. This being the case the particular form and size of the,con

taming receptacle is relatively unimportant.

What I claim is: 1. In a sterilizer a diaphragm member, insulating sleeves carried by the diaphragm member, a tube carried by the diaphragm member, and provided at its lower end with apertures, means to su port the diaphragm and associated parts wit in a receptacle, conductors carried Within the sleeves, electrodes carried by the conductors and having their terminals inserted through apertures in the tube and spaced apart within such tube.

2. In a sterilizer the combination with a receptacle of a diaphragm supported within the receptacle, insulating sleeves carrie by the diaphragm, a tube carried by the diareceptacle uisite that the material [pass phragm and disposed between the sleeves conductors disposed within the sleeves and electrodes carried by; the conductors and havin their termma spaced apart within the tn 6.

e 3. In a sterilizer the combination with a ofa diaphragm adapted to be supportedwithin the receptacle conductors supported by and depending below the diaphragm a tube carried centrally of the diaphragm and provided with a slitted lower end and electrodes carried by the conductors withtheir terminals inserted through the slits and spacedwithin the tube.

4. In a sterilizer, a tube having an open upper end and provided adjacent its lower en with opposed openings throu h which liquid oure may ow, and electrodes havin their terminals extending into the openings in opposed relation.

5. In a sterilizer, a member into which the liquid to be sterilized is to be poured, the said member being formed with outlet'openings, and electrodes having their terminals projecting into the said openings.

into the upper end 0 the tube In testimony whereof I afiix my signature ,in presence of two witnesses.

' MATHEW R. FREI. Witnesses:

k ISABEL M. STRONG, CABLE Wm'rmrmn. 

